Congressman Jason Smith Capitol Report: Protecting the Unborn

Friday

Jun 21, 2013 at 12:30 PMJun 21, 2013 at 12:44 PM

The House of Representatives this week passed legislation to end late-term abortions in America. The bill, H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would ban abortions in the United States after 20 weeks post fertilization. I voted in support of the late term abortion ban and I am honored to have also served as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith

The House of Representatives this week passed legislation to end late-term abortions in America. The bill, H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, would ban abortions in the United States after 20 weeks post fertilization. I voted in support of the late term abortion ban and I am honored to have also served as a co-sponsor of the legislation.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is a direct response to the atrocities that were uncovered during the trial of Kermit Gosnell in Philadelphia. Like many of you, I was saddened and angered by the senseless disregard for innocent life uncovered during the trial. Delivered or not, babies are babies and we cannot allow monsters like Kermit Gosnell to rob these innocent babies of a chance at life.

As a person of faith, I have always fought for Pro-Life issues and in the United States House of Representatives I will continue supporting legislation to end abortions. While abortion is a deeply personal issue, it also speaks to the character of our Nation.

America should value all human life and passage of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, took us one step closer to that goal. This legislation marks the first time in history that the U.S. House of Representatives has extended affirmative protection to the unborn.

In the 40 years that have passed since the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in our Nation, 55 million innocent lives have tragically been lost. To put that into perspective, there are roughly 55 million people living in the states of New York and California combined.

Every representative, every physician and every American needs to be reminded that at the center of our Pro-Life struggle is the protection of all human life. We cannot live in a society where some human life is valued and other life is not. As work continues to protect life, we must also lay the foundation for a society that does not accept abortion as a form of birth control.

Passage of H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act is important, but work still remains. Open hearts and open minds can heal our nation and change abortions into adoptions. I hope you will join me in praying for the protection of the unborn. The intersection of prayer and action can produce amazing results. I know we can accomplish our goals, and innocent human life can be saved.